Boundary Objects as Part of Knowledge Integration for Networked Innovation

摘要

Networked innovation in co-creation networks is not possible without collaborative practices. Especially in complex projects, contextual knowledge is often spread among different stakeholders. To harness this dispersed knowledge for networked innovation, working knowledge management and collaborative practices are needed. This article addresses this need for better understanding and approaches to facilitate knowledge integration for networked innovation. We consider knowledge integration as the ability to put knowledge into action, and networked innovation as the co-created goal-driven output of selected partners. Our study focuses on describing and reporting a cross-learning type of expert knowledge-integration process with boundary objects, concrete or abstract “bridges” for overcoming possible knowledge boundaries, in a co-creation network. This article adds knowledge on networked innovation through knowledge integration with boundary objects. The reported process will help managers to systematically approach problems requiring expert knowledge that does not exist within their own organization and to better integrate knowledge required for innovation within their project networks.